Control for four-speed portable drilling machines



"Julyll, 1939. w. D. DAVIDSON ET AL 2,155,350

CONTROL FOR FOUR-.SPEED PORTABLE DRI'LLING MACHINES /ozy IN vf/vroRs WML/,4M 0. My/aso/v Gua/:LMO P25/vouw July 1-1,l 1939. w. D. DAVIDSON AL 2,155,350

CONTROL FOR FOUR-SPEED PORTABLE DRILLING MACHINES A T7' ORNE K July 11, l939- w. D. DAvlDsoN E1- AL 2,165,350

COIiTROL FOR FOUR-SPEED PORTABLE DRILLING MACHINES Filed July 6, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 MLA/,4M 0. 0A l//OJO/V Garn/LMO TREMOLADA A TTOR/vfy.

Patented July 11, 1939 UNITED STATES 'I Claims.

Our invention relates to machines employed in the oil well drilling art, and particularly to machines adapted to transmit rotary power from a power source to various apparatus used while 5 drilling wells, such as a rotary machine for rotating the drill pipe in the well and hoisting apparatus for handling drill pipe, casings, pipe tongs, bailers, and the like; and also for transmitting power for various. uses after the well .i has been.drilled. n v y .Our i\"vention comprises a new combination which provides in a portable unitary structure apparatus which is capable of doing in a better and more convenient way work of various independent machines which are` at present used in drilling wells. In 4order that the importance of our invention to the well drilling industry maybe better understood, we will, as briefly as possible, describe the equipment that it is necessary .to utilize at present in drilling an oil well.v A rotary machine placed on a derrick floor is used to rotate a drill pipe which extends into the well and is connected to a bit for rotating the same. 'I'he rotary machine is connected by a chain-andsprocket connection -to a draw works, which in turn is connected byK a chain-and-sprocket tp an internal combustion engine. The draw works is provided with various shafts which are conne`cted together by a chain-and-sprocket connection to provide various speed combinations for rotating the drill pipe at various speeds. 'I'he drawgworks is also provided with a rotary drum upon which a heavy cable is wound. This cable is extended upwardly around a crown block at the top of the derrick and the free end thereof is connected to a travelling block which in .turn is connected to the upper end of vthe drill pipe by a swivel to support the weight of the drill pipe and the bitV in the well. g

It is frequently necessary during the drilling of an oil well, due to the well sanding up at the bottom, to remove the drill pipe from the well and to bail out the sand and rotary mud at the bottom of the Well. This is done by lowering a bailer by a cable to the bottom of the well where the bailer is allowed toflll with sand and rotary mud which is raised to the surface of the ground and dumped. This is done repeatedly until sucient sand has been removed so that drilling may be continued.

If the equipment of the well being drilled does not include some manner of hoisting apparatus 4 in addition tothe'rotary drum included in the 55 draw works, the cable must be disconnected oom-aol. ron ropa-eraan roa'ranw nimma momes WilliamD. Davidson and Guglielmo Tremolada,

Los Angeles, Calif.,- aaaignora to Emaeo'Derrick and Equipment Company, Loa Angeles, Calif., a corporation ot California Application July s, 19st, saranno. 89,096

PATENT ori-Ica (ci. 'x4-412) from the travelling block and crown block and stripped from the rotary drum so that the cable from the bailer may be wound thereon and the rotary drum used as a bailer hoist. It is not possible to use the drilling cable for a bailer cable 6 because the bailer cable must reach to the bottom of the well and the heavier drilling cable is not long enough. The spool of thel rotary drum is grooved to guide the large diameter drilling cable and when it is necessary to use the rotary drum as a bailer hoist, it is necessary to cover the grooved spool with a smooth core provided for the purpose so that the smaller diameter cable used in bailing will wind properly. The great disadvantage of using the rotary drum in the above mentioned manner has led to the almost universal use of special apparatus for hoisting the bailer, such as sand reels or auxiliary hoists, which, in some instances, in addition to special motive power requires special gear reduction.

After a well has been drilled and brought in and the heavy drilling machinery, including the special hoisting equipment referred to above, has been entirely dismantled and removed from the well to make room for pumping machinery, it is sometimes found necessary to re-drill the well. This may become necessary either because the well has been entirely depleted and it is desired to drill the well deeper to contact a new stratum or the well may have become sanded upso that it can no longer be pumped. The cost of transporting and reinstalling the heavy drilling machinery and the auxiliary apparatus necessary for bailing, and the dismantling of the u pumping machinery to make room therefor is frequently found to be prohibitive. and the well may therefore be lost.

It is an 4object of the invention to overcome this problem by providing a portable unitary o machine which may be easily andcheaply transported and installed in a derrick and. which is capable of re-drilling and bailing the well,with out dismantling the pumping machinery, and

without the addition of any auxiliary apparatus,

such as hoists, mechanism for operating pipe tongs, motive power, etc.

It is another object of the invention to provide a portable apparatus including a rotary drum suitable for use in' drilling, power transfer means suitable for driving a rotary machine for rotating a drill pipe in a well, a hoisting means such .as a sand reel, a reverse gear mechanism v for driving the apparatus in reverse direction,

a drive mechanism including power means for driving the apparatus through the reverse gear and for operating a slush pump. all incorporated in a unitary structure so that the structure may be quickly and easily moved from one well to another with the drilling cable and hoisting cable wound on their respective drums and reels ready for use at all times without change.

It is another object of the invention to provide in an apparatus of the character described an engine driven reverse gear mechanism connected for operating a work mechanism in forward and reverse directions, and operating means therefor including a single operating member for reversing the reverse gear mechanism and for controlling the speed of the engine.

It is another object of the invention to provide in an apparatus of the character described in the above paragraph a drive mechanism utilizing two engines, one of which is normally connected for driving a slush pump and the other of which is connected for driving the reverse gear mechanism; means associated with the first mentioned engine whereby the reverse gear mechanism may be driven by both of the engines; and operating means including a single operating member for controlling the speed of both of the engines and for actuating the control means of the reverse gear mechanism.

It is another object of the invention to provide in combination with the drive mechanism and the reverse gear mechanism mentioned above, a work mechanism including a hoisting device, such as a sand reel whichis provided with driving means capable of two speeds; a. low speed for starting the bail from the bottom of the well, and a high speed for use in raising the bail from the well after the load is reduced.

Another important and novel feature of the invention resides in the provision of a floating sand reel, which is free spooling, to allow the bail to be run into the well without the necessity of reversing the direction of rotation of the reverse gear mechanism.

It is another object of the invention to provide inan apparatus of the character described a work mechanism including a rotary drum which is provided with drive means capable of two different speeds, a rotary machine drive sprocket capable of two different speeds and a sand reel having drive means capable of two different speeds, all of these members being driven by a reverse gear mechanism capable of reversing the .direction of rotation of each of the members in either of their two speeds; the sand reel being also freely rotatable when desired for running the bailing device into the well.

It is another object of the invention to provide in combination an apparatus comprising: a drive mechanism including one or more engines; a reverse gear mechanism driven by one or both of the engines and including a reciprocating control lever for reversing the mechanism; work mechanism driven by the reverse gear mechanism; and operating means including an operating member journalled for rotational and longitudinal movement, the operating member being operatively connected with the control lever to reciprocate the lever when moved longitudinally and operatively connected with the throttles of the engines to actuate the throttles when rotated.

These and other objects of the invention will be made clear in the following part of the specification and the appended claims in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings,

ammasso Fig. 1 is a top plan view of our complete portable unitary drilling machine.

Fig. 2 ls a side elevation of the machine'shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the operating means showing the details of construction and operation of the operating member for controlling the reverse gear mechanism of the apparatus and the throttles of the engine.

Fig. 4 is a section taken as indicated by the line 4 4 of Fig. 3. y

Fig. 5 is a section taken as indicated by the line 5--5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view illustrating the carburetor of one of the engines of the apparatus and a portion of the operating means associated with the operating member for actuating the throttle of the carburetor.

Our drilling apparatus comprises generally a supporting structure I I upon which are mounted a driving mechanism I2, a reverse gear mechanismi3, a work mechanism I4, and an operating means I5.

The drive mechanism I2 is preferably a mull tiple-engine unit and comprises a first engine I6, a second engine I'I, and a countershaft I8. The engines I6 and I1 may be internal combustion engines and are preferably positioned in parallel relationship with the axes thereof transverse to the length of the supporting structure II. The countershaft IB is journalled by suitable bearings I9 and 2U mounted on the supporting structure Ii, the countershaft being preferably positioned between the engines I6 and I'I, as shown, and parallel with the axes thereof. The first engine I 6 is connected for driving the countershaft I8 by power transfer means in the form of a chainand-sprocket connection 2 I, the respective sprockets being fixed to the engine shaft and the countershaft for constantly driving the countershaft when the engine i6 is operating in gear. Mounted on the countershaft I8 adjacent the bearing 20 is a primary floating sprocket 22 having associated therewith a clutch member 23 which is splined to the countershaft and rotates therewith. there being a clutch throw-out yoke 24 for moving the clutch member 23 into and out of engagement with a clutch face 25 on the sprocket 22. As shown in Fig. 1 the sprocket 22 may be a double sprocket so that the two chains may be associated therewith for driving two slush pumps if desired. Mounted on the opposite end of the countershaft I8 adjacent the chain-andsprocket connection 2i is a secondary floating sprocket 26 having a clutch face 21 thereon which is engageable by a clutch member 28 splined to the shaft, there being a clutch throw-out yoke 29 operable to move the clutch member 28 into and out of engagement with the clutch face 21.

The reverse gear mechanism I3 comprises generally a drive shaft 30 journalled in suitable bearings 3I and 32 carried by-a base structure 33 which in turn is mounted on the supporting structure I I, and a driven part 34 having power transfer means thereon in the form of a sprocket 35. At one end of the driven part 34 is a brake drum 36 and a forward drive clutch mechanism 31 adapted to accomplish a direct drive connection between the drive shaft 3D and the driven part 34 so that when the clutch mechanism 31 is engaged the driven part 34 will rotate with the drive shaft 30. At the opposite end of the driven part 34 is a reverse gear device having a reverse clutch mechanism 4I which may be engaged so as to causethe reverse gear device 40 to drive the driven part 34 in a direction opposite to the rotation of the drive shaft 30. As the general construction of the reversc gear mechanisms and their forward and reverse clutches are well known in the art, these parts are only generallyindicated and are not shown in detail. In connection with our present apparatus we prefer, however, to utilize a reverse gear mechanism of the type fully disclosed in the United States patent to Tremolada, No. 1,862,871, which includes a neutral brake and operating mechanism therefor arranged to brake the driven part 34 to a complete stop when both the forward drive clutch mechanism 31 and the reverse clutch mechanism 4I are disengaged;` or, in lother words, when the reverse gear mechanism is in neutral. The operating mechanism of the reverse gear I3 includes a clutch throw-cut yoke 42 associated with the reverse clutch mechanism 4l movement of one yoke to the other. The yoke 43 is operated by an oscillating or swinging controll gage and disengage the clutch mechanisms and to operate the neutral brake included in the mechanism.

The driven shaft 30 of the reverse gear mechanism I3 is driven by the second engine I1 through a power transfer means in the form of a chainand-sprocket connection 50, the respective sprockets thereof being fixed to the engine shaft and the shaft 36 for constantly driving the shaft 30 when the second engine is in operation in gear. Fixed on the outer end of the drive shaft 30 is a sprocket 5I, which is connected to the secondary iioat sprocket 26 by a chain 52.

It will be seen from the description thus far that the first motor I6 is connected for constanty driving the countershaft I8 and is normally used to drive one or more slush pumps through the primary floating sprocket 22, and the second motor is connected for constantly driving the drive shaft 30 of the reverse gear mechanism.

i If, however, more power is desired to drive the reverse gear mechanism, the clutch member 28 may be engaged with the clutch face 21 to drive the secondary sprocket 26 which places both the first and second engines in driving relationship with the drive shaft 30 of the reverse gear mechanism I3. The clutch 23 associated with the primary oating sprocket 22 may at this time be either engaged or disengaged as desired.

The work mechanism I4 comprises generally a rotary machine drive 60, a sand reel 6I, and a drill cable drum 62. The preferred manner of associating the rotary drive, sand reel, and the drum with relation to the previously described parts of the apparatus is as follows. Mounted on the supporting structure Il adjacent the reverse gear mechanism I3 is a sand reel and drum supporting member comprising a base member which, as shown best in Fig. 2, may be a part of the base member 33 of the reverse gear mechanism, and upon which a pair of relatively spaced uprights 63 is mounted. Each of the uprights 63 comprises a vertical leg and a sloping leg connected at their upper ends by a` horizontal beam substantially as shown in Fig. 2. Journalled by suitable bearings 65 positioned adjacent the reverse gear mechanism is a jack shaft 66 having a sprocket 61 fixed thereon in alignment withy the sprocket 35 of the driven part 34 included in the reverse gear mechanism, the sprocket 81 being driven thereby. Journalled by bearings 68 mounted on the horizontal beams of the uprights 63 is a sand reel shaft 69 upon which the sand reel 6I is freely rotatable, there being suitable bearing means, not shown, for preventing relative longitudinal movement of the sand reel on the shaft 69. Mounted on one outer end of the sand reel shaft, on the same side of the apparatus as the power transfer means 2l and 50, is

a floating rotary drive sprocket 10 having formed thereon a clutch face 1I engageable by a clutch part 12 splined on the shaft, there being clutch throw-out means 13 for engaging and disengaging the clutch parts 1I and 12. Keyed to the sand reel shaft 69 on one side of the sand reel 6I is a double sprocket 15. Mounted to iioat on the jack shaft 66 in alignment with one-half of the sprocket 15 is afloating sprocket 16 having a clutch face thereon engageable by a clutch part 11 splined on the jack shaft and movable into and out of engagement with the sprocket 16 by throw-out means 18. The sprockets 15 and 16 constitute a low-speed driven means for the sand reel shaft 69 and for the rotary machine driven means 66 comprising the sprocket 10. Mounted onr the sand reel shaft 69 on the opposite side of the sand reel 6I is a fixed double sprocket 811.v

Journalled to fioat on the jack shaft 66 in alignment with one-half of the sprocket 80 is a sprocket 8l `having a clutch face engageable by a clutch part 82 splined on the shaft 66 and moved into and out of' engagement with the-sprocket 8| by throw-out means 83. Formed on the sand reel, on the end thereof adjacent the sprocket 80, is a clutch part 85 which is engaged by a clutch member 86 splined to the shaft 69 and movable into and out of engagement with the clutch part 85 by throw-out means 81. The sprockets 80 and 8l constitute a high-speed drive means for the shaft I69 and for the rotary drive sprocket 10 through this shaft. The sprockets 15 and 16 and the sprockets 80 and 8l likewise respectively constitute low and high speed drive means for the sand 'reel shaft 6I, it being obvious that by manipulation of the movable clutch part 86 the sand reel may be caused to rotate with the shaft 69 when the clutch part 11 or 82 of either the low or high speed drive means for the shaft 69 is engaged. Journalled by suitable bearings 90, mounted as shown on the sloping leg of the uprights 63, is a drum shaft 9| upon which the drum 62 is fixed. Journalled so as to float on the drum shaft 9| in alignment with one-half of the sprocket 15 is a sprocket 92 having a clutch face thereon engageable by a splined clutch part 93 whichl is movable into and out of engagement with the sprocket 92 by throw-out means 94. The sprockets 15 and 92 constitute the low-speed drive forthe drum 62. Journalled so as to float on the drum shaft 9i in alignment with one-half of the sprocket 80 is a sprocket 95 having a clutch face engageableby a clutch part 96 splined on the shaft and movable into and out cf engagement with the sprocket 95 by a throw-out means 91. The sprockets 80 and 95 constitute the high-speed drive means for the drum 62.

It will be clear from the drawings that the rotary machine drive sprocket 19 is capable of being driven at one of two speeds; likewise, that the sand reel 6I and the drum 62 are capable of being driven selectively or simultaneously at one of two speeds, and that at either of these speeds the direction of rotation of the rotary drive, the

sand reel, or the drum may be reversed by manipulating the control means of the reverse gear mechanism. It will likewise be clear that either the rotary machine drive, the sand reel, or the drum may be driven through the reverse gear by one or both of the engines I6 and I1 at will.

The invention includes a novel operating means by which the control means of the reverse gear mechansm and the throttles of both of the engines are controlled by a single operating member. The operating means |5 of the invention comprises an operating member journalled for longitudinal and rotational movement, the operating member being operatively connected to the control means of the reverse gear mechanism and to the throttles of the engines I6 and I1 so that a longitudinal movement of the operating member actuates the control means of the re'- verse gear mechanism and a rotational movement of the operating member actuates the throttles of the engines. The preferred form o f1 operating means comprises a supporting memberv |0I which is preferablysecured to part of the supporting structure II; for instance, upon one of the uprights 63. Journalled in the support member |0| is a sprocket |02 having a hub portion |03 extending through an opening |04 in the support member, there being a collar |05 removably xed in a position surrounding the hub |03, as shown, to retain the sprocket |02 in journalled relationship on the support member. The sprocket |02 has a central opening through which the operating member |00 extends, the operating member being keyed to the sprocket |02 by a key |06 so that the sprocket |02 is driven by a rotation of the operating member while permitting the member to move longitudinally relative thereto. Journalled on the inner end of the operating member |00 is a guide block |01 retained thereon by collars |08, the guide block having a recess |09 adapted to slidably engage a guide rib I0 mounted in parallel relationship with the operating member |00, as shown. Retaining lugs III secured to the block |01 by suitable means, such as bolts I I2, so as to extend over the upper and lower edges of the guide rib IIO, as shown in Fig. 4, are provided to retain the block |01 thereon. Secured to the block |01 by a ball-and-socket joint I3 is a link ||4 which in turn is connected by a ball-and-socket joint II5 to the upper end of the control lever 45 of the reverse gear mechanism I3. Journalled in parallel relationship with the control member I00, as by a bearing ||1 formed in the support member I0| and a bearing I I8 supported by the upright 63 substantially as shown, is an engine throttle control shaft |20. Fixed on the outer end of the control shaft is a sprocket |2I which is connected with the sprocket |02 by a chain |22.

Mounted on the throttle shaft of the carburetor |26 of each of the engines I6 and I1, as shown in Fig. 6, is a segment |21 having teeth |28 formed on the periphery thereof which engage a pinion |29 journalled on a pin |30, suitably supported as by connection with the body of the carburetor |26. Mounted on the pin |30 is'a sprocket I3I which is fixed to the pinion |29 for rotation therewith on the pin. Keyed on the shaft |20 adjacent each of the engines I6 and I1 is a sprocket |32 each of which is drivably connected to the sprockets I3I by power transfer means in the form of a chain |33.

In some instances the throttle control shaft |20 may comprise a plurality of sections |34, suitably supported as by brackets I 35 mounted on the frames of the engines I0 and I1, these sections being connected together by links |36 and universal Joints |31 to form a flexible shaft extending fromthe sprocket |2I to the sprocket |32 of,

the first engine I8. It will be clear that when the operating member |00 is rotated, regardless of its longitudinal position relative to the sprocket |02, the sprocket |02 will rotate the shaft |20 through the sprocket I2 I, thus actuating the shaft |25 in an obvious manner through the sprockets |3| and |32, the pinion |29, and the segment |21 to control the speed oi' the engines.

Although we have illustrated and described only one complete 'form of our portable drilling apparatus, and of the novel operating means for controlling both the reversing of the work mechanism and the speed oi the drive engines, it should be understood that various modifications of the operating means and various arrangements of the drive mechanism and reverse gear mechanism with respect to the work mechanism may be made without departing from the scope of the invention which should be interpreted by the appended claims and not by the details of construction shown in the illustrative drawings and described in detail in the specification.

We claim as our invention:

1. In an apparatus of the character described. the combination cfr a reverse gear mechanism including a swinging control lever; an engine operably connected to drive said reverse gear mechanism; an operating member journalled for rotational and longitudinal movement; a link swiveled to said operating member and to said control lever and-operable to swing said lever when said operating member is moved longitudinally; ashaft having means associated therewith for actuating the throttle of said engine when said shaft is rotated; and means rotatable with said operating member for rotating said shaft.

2. In an operating means for an engine driven reverse gear mechanism including a reverse gear control means and an engine control means, one of which is operable by rotational movement and the other of which is operable by longitudinal movement, the combination including: an operating member journalled on a support member for longitudinal and rotational movement; a link connecting said operating member and the control means which is operated by longitudinal movement in order to operate same when said operating member is moved longitudinally; a shaft journalled adjacent said operating member; means whereby a rotational movement of said operating member causes said shaft to rotate; and connecting means connected to said shaft and to the control means which is operable by rotational movement for operating same when said operating member is rotated.

3. In an operating means for an engine driven reverse gear mechanism including a reverse gear control means and an engine control means, one

said operating member causes said shaft to rotate; and a secondl connecting means connected to said shaft and to the control means whichl is operable by rotational movement for operating same when said operating member is rotated.

4. In an operating means for operating a combination having two control means, one lof which is operable by `rotational movement and the other of which is operable by longitudinal movement, the combination including: an operating member journalled on a support member for longitudinal and rotational movement; a longitudinally movable slide means to which said operating member is connected; a connecting means connecting said slide means and the control means which is operated by longitudinal movement in order to operate same when said operating member is moved longitudinally; a shaft journalled adjacent said operating member; means whereby a rotational movement of' said operating member causes said shaft to rotate; and a second connecting means connected to said shaft and to the control means which is operable by rotational movement for operating same when said operating member is rotated.

5. In an operating means for operating a combination having two control means, one of which is operable by rotational movement and the other of which is operable by longitudinal movement, the combination including: an operating member iournalled on a support member for longitudinal and rotational movement; a longitudinally movable slide means to which said operating member is rotatably connected and which to said shaft and to the control means which is operable by rotational movement for operating same when said operating member is rotated.

6. In an operating means, the combination of: a support means; an operating member journalled on said support means for rotational and longitudinal movement; a guide supported by said support means; a slide longitudinally movable on said guide and being rotatably connected to said operating member, said slide being longitudinally movable by said operating member and having a connection means for connecting same to a means to be longitudinally moved thereby; a rotatable shaft rotatably supported by said support means and having a connection means for connecting same to a means Ato be rotated thereby; and rotating means interconnected between said operating member and said shaft whereby upon rotation of said operating member said shaft is caused to rotate, ,said operating member, said guide, and said sha/ft all extending lsubstantially parallel to each ..other.

'7. In an operating means for an engine driven reverse gear mechanism including a reverse gear control means and an engine control means, the combination of a shaft; a guide in parallel relation to said shaft; an operating member parallel to said shaft and said guide journalled for rotation and longitudinal movement; a sliding head slidable on said guide and being connected tov said operating member so as to be moved thereby; means for transmitting rotation from said operating member to said shaft whereby -rotation of said operating member will be accompanied by rotation of said shaft; means connecting said sliding head to said reverse gear control m'eans so that movement of said head on said guide will operate said reverse rgear control means; and means connecting said shaft to said engine control means so that rotation of said shaft will actuate said engine control means.

WILLIAM D. DAVIDSON. GUGLIELMO TREMOLADA. 

